My friend Jason had a Jesus rifle.
I’ve mentioned him before. Today he is the pastor of this church. But when he first found faith, he interpreted the Lord’s instruction to share the gospel as a prompting to witness uniformly to each person he met. “Jesus rifle” later became his term for this. Christ came into the conversation with an abruptness that was like a weapon discharging. People naturally put up their defenses. Today, Jason’s term for what he practices—and teaches others to practice—is sensitive witnessing.
Jesus was sensitive. The reason we get so many different facets of Jesus’ teaching throughout the gospels is that Jesus met so many different people. Different episodes in the gospels involve a ruler coming to him by night, a woman lost in thought at a well, sisters in conflict over housekeeping, a woman reviled for adultery, an afflicted man living among tombs, and others. In each case, Jesus looked into that person’s stance or circumstances in that moment, in order to offer the news that would best help that person to turn back toward the light. In each encounter—and throughout his entire time on earth—Jesus left unspoken most of what he could have said.
So how much Jesus is the right amount to give people?
Part of the answer is this:
Even a tiny bit might do. Even a hint might be enough. Jesus likens the kingdom of God to a mustard seed, a tiny kernel that can flourish relentlessly into an overwhelming bush. The Bible goes so far as to say that not even the Bible itself is necessary for people to know their Creator (Romans 1:20).
Another part of the answer is this:
No amount of God is sufficient—at least no amount that we can convey—so we have to count on God himself to provide the supply.
Our role is to find people where they are and help them. Our role is to make it easy for people to turn toward the light by focusing and reflecting that light as best we can.
Legend attributes a maxim to Francis of Assisi. “Preach the gospel always,” he said, “and if necessary, use words.”
We should be honest about who we are and what we believe. We should love others. We should be ready to give the reason for our hope in case anyone asks (I Peter 3:15). Those are three fundamental steps.
Ministering to others and making disciples does not consist of only this much, but just this much is a challenge. If we aren’t doing at least these three things, then securing these steps is the starting point.
When Jesus said, “Go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:29), he wasn’t telling us to go accost people on street corners. The word “go” in this commission is often construed as a forceful command, but an equally likely sense of the word is “as you go.” Jesus told his followers, in other words, “Go on from here, but as you are going, make disciples....”
A “rifle” is a tool for hunting. Jesus did not call us to be hunters, but instead to be fishers of men.
In fact, a rifle is a limited implement. It points at just one target at a time. The fishermen who followed Jesus caught with nets. A net, placed properly, will catch however many fish God directs into it—maybe one fish or maybe 153 (John 21:11).
Therefore, put out your net. The net is love. The net is faithfulness. Have the patience of a fisherman waiting on his catch, and while you wait, build up the strength that you might need to haul the net back in if it should happen that your catch is abundant.
I’ve mentioned him before. Today he is the pastor of this church. But when he first found faith, he interpreted the Lord’s instruction to share the gospel as a prompting to witness uniformly to each person he met. “Jesus rifle” later became his term for this. Christ came into the conversation with an abruptness that was like a weapon discharging. People naturally put up their defenses. Today, Jason’s term for what he practices—and teaches others to practice—is sensitive witnessing.
Jesus was sensitive. The reason we get so many different facets of Jesus’ teaching throughout the gospels is that Jesus met so many different people. Different episodes in the gospels involve a ruler coming to him by night, a woman lost in thought at a well, sisters in conflict over housekeeping, a woman reviled for adultery, an afflicted man living among tombs, and others. In each case, Jesus looked into that person’s stance or circumstances in that moment, in order to offer the news that would best help that person to turn back toward the light. In each encounter—and throughout his entire time on earth—Jesus left unspoken most of what he could have said.
So how much Jesus is the right amount to give people?
Part of the answer is this:
Even a tiny bit might do. Even a hint might be enough. Jesus likens the kingdom of God to a mustard seed, a tiny kernel that can flourish relentlessly into an overwhelming bush. The Bible goes so far as to say that not even the Bible itself is necessary for people to know their Creator (Romans 1:20).
Another part of the answer is this:
No amount of God is sufficient—at least no amount that we can convey—so we have to count on God himself to provide the supply.
Our role is to find people where they are and help them. Our role is to make it easy for people to turn toward the light by focusing and reflecting that light as best we can.
Legend attributes a maxim to Francis of Assisi. “Preach the gospel always,” he said, “and if necessary, use words.”
We should be honest about who we are and what we believe. We should love others. We should be ready to give the reason for our hope in case anyone asks (I Peter 3:15). Those are three fundamental steps.
Ministering to others and making disciples does not consist of only this much, but just this much is a challenge. If we aren’t doing at least these three things, then securing these steps is the starting point.
When Jesus said, “Go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:29), he wasn’t telling us to go accost people on street corners. The word “go” in this commission is often construed as a forceful command, but an equally likely sense of the word is “as you go.” Jesus told his followers, in other words, “Go on from here, but as you are going, make disciples....”
A “rifle” is a tool for hunting. Jesus did not call us to be hunters, but instead to be fishers of men.
In fact, a rifle is a limited implement. It points at just one target at a time. The fishermen who followed Jesus caught with nets. A net, placed properly, will catch however many fish God directs into it—maybe one fish or maybe 153 (John 21:11).
Therefore, put out your net. The net is love. The net is faithfulness. Have the patience of a fisherman waiting on his catch, and while you wait, build up the strength that you might need to haul the net back in if it should happen that your catch is abundant.
Related post:
The blog UTM Sentiments has a great post on sharing the gospel and the Francis of Assisi quote. See Improving the Words of St. Francis.
